'Aggretsuko' Season 3 Review: A turning point in Retsuko's life forces her to use her hidden talents
Sometimes it's impossible to save up for a future you can't envision, making one big purchase after another just to make the present seem more bearable. As your savings fritter away, it only takes one unfortunate accident to turn regular financial pressure into something that upends your life entirely. For Retsuko (Kaoli/Rarecho/Erica Mendez/Jamison Boaz), however, being forced into a corner is just the shake-up she needed to start taking more control over her life — and get the very first paycheck she feels she's every truly earned.
After her relationship with Tadano (Chiharu Sasa/Griffin Burns) ended, Retsuko attempts to fill the gaping hole in her heart with the simple allure of a VR boyfriend. Unfortunately for her, VR boyfriends are expensive, attached to a number of microtransactions that soon leech away nearly all of Retsuko's savings, forcing her to eat discarded bread crusts just to save enough money for rent.
It's at this low point that she crashes her rented car into that of a manager of an underground pop group called OTMGirls, putting her in severe debt and forcing her to work for the little-known popstars. It's here that Retsuko truly comes to shine, however, as the only way for her to work out her debt is if the band makes money and Retsuko is finally able to use her innate talents in ways that are both effective and appreciated.
The show brings back its masterful portrayal of the rat race to yet another season. It effectively uses Retsuko's obsession with her demanding VR "boyfriend" to illustrate how empty one's life can become when all your time is spent just making ends meet, with no time for dreams. Her corporate lifestyle has not only crushed Retsuko's dreams but her entire sense of self-worth.
"I'm done exploring...I don't have any special talents, so I'm gonna live an honest life with my feet on the ground," she admits, in one heartbreaking moment. Circumstances dictate otherwise, and we see Retsuko forced to apply herself in ways she hasn't before simply because she's been backed into a corner.
Deep in debt, suddenly she's pursuing unique ways to make money — whether it's finding an efficient way to market OTMGirls, or finally making the most out of her Heavy Metal karaoke skills on YouTube, Retsuko quickly finds that she's just as talented as others she admires when it comes to working a side hustle.
The show's new characters are fascinatingly nuanced — there is more to each of them than meets the eye, as is typical of the show. The simple animation style of 'Aggretsuko' manages to have both subtle storytellings while still having every major mood portrayed in its hyper-emotive style. While Mr Hyodo appears to be a ruthless predator of a businessman at first, it quickly becomes clear that he's in over his head and is desperately trying anything that works.
Manaka (Sayumi), the lead singer of OTMGirls, is shrewd enough to call Retsuko out on the way she makes excuses not to follow her dreams, despite Manaka appearing to be nothing but a vapid pop star hoping to make it big.
The show's only weak point is perhaps its minor romantic subplot, as Haida (Shingo Kato/Ben Diskin) continues to carry a torch for Retsuko, but grows conflicted when another coworker starts showing an interest in him. The show is at its best when it's examining the day-to-day pressures of capitalism, and its romances are not nearly as well developed.
'Aggretsuko' continues to be a strong, heartfelt series with deeply nuanced writing made all the more effective by its hyper-emotive animation style. It goes to some dark places, but always leaves just enough room for the light to peek in. It's a real turning point for Retsuko, who is finally forced to find her own unique talents in a way that she hasn't before, and is hopefully just the start of some major lifestyle changes for the character.
All episodes of 'Aggretsuko' Season 3 are now available to stream on Netflix.